Bears select QB Enderle, LB Thomas on final day of draft

Feeling there was better value for the positions they addressed than positions of need, the Bears chose to add depth on Day 3 of the draft by selecting quarterback Nathan Enderle of Idaho in Round 6 and linebacker James (J.T.) Thomas of West Virginia in Round 7.

Enderle is the developmental prospect the team was hoping to add last year when they selected Dan LeFevour, whom the Bears later cut before the season with the hopes of adding to their practice squad before he was picked up by the Bengals. Enderle doesn’t have great accuracy or throwing strength but has intelligence and can read defenses at the line of scrimmage.

Thomas is an undersized linebacker but has great speed and is the perfect fit for the Tampa-2 defense. Probably best suited for the weak side where Lance Briggs currently plays, the Bears feel he can play all three positions and will likely contribute on special teams early.

Unless the Bears have an idea of which veteran wide receivers will be on the market if and when free agency finally opens, and unless they have a plan to sign one of them, they have once again reaffirmed their strong belief in the corps they now have. I do expect the Bears to add another offensive lineman at some point and could address the secondary as well.

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